Monday, 23 January 2017

Guy
Verhofstadt has fast-tracked the plan and will include it in his mandate

EU
negotiators will offer people in the UK the chance to individually opt-in and
remain EU citizens as a proposal in Brexit negotiations, the European
Parliament’s chief negotiator has confirmed.

The proposal,
first revealed in its early stages by The Independent last month, was being
considered as a long-term aim by the European Parliament – but has now been
fast-tracked to the negotiating table by Guy Verhofstadt, who is in charge of
thrashing out a post-Brexit deal. Mr Verhofstadt said the “very important” proposal had
“captured the imagination and hopes” of many British people who wished to
retain their rights as EU citizens and would be in his negotiating
mandate. The plan would
see Brits offered individual “associate citizenship”, letting them keep free
movement to live and work across the EU, as well as a vote in European
Parliament elections.

The proposal
could potentially give Brits who live and work across borders a workaround to
the disruption caused by the Leave vote – and young people looking to flee an
increasingly isolated UK greater choice over where to move to. Depending on
the approach taken by EU negotiators, the idea would likely be subject to
approval by the British government.

Mr Verhofstadt
is drawing up a report with the European Parliament’s Committee on
constitutional affairs about proposed long-term changes to the EU’s structure.
The plan was originally proposed by liberal MP Charles Goerens for inclusion in
the report, but will now bypass that process and be taken forward
independently.

It is an important amendment that has captured the imagination
and hopes of many of the 48 per cent of Brits that have voted to remain in the
EU. In a
statement, Mr Goerens said: “Today I decided together with Guy Verhofstadt to
withdraw my amendment on Associate EU citizenship. We realised that this has
become a very important issue that cannot await treaty change – as was my
intention when I first tabled my amendment – since this might take years. “Yesterday
evening, the House of Commons decided by a majority of almost 400 to support
Theresa Mays plan to trigger article 50 by the end of March 2017. Hence the
prospect that this Article 50 will be invoked has become very real indeed.

“The European
Parliament will define its position on the Brexit agreement through a
resolution during spring 2017. This seems to be the best opportunity to give
Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt the possibility to enforce the Associate EU
Citizenship.

“I recognise
this might come as a surprise to many of you, but please understand that the
abovementioned procedure makes it much more likely for the Associate EU
Citizenship to succeed than through an amendment.”

Lib Dem MEP
Catherine Bearder said: “The option of being able to retain EU citizenship
offers a glimmer of hope for the millions of British people devastated by the
referendum result. “The fact this
proposal is going ahead shows there remains a huge amount of goodwill towards
Britain, despite the actions of this Conservative Brexit government. “Everyone who
supports this should write to MEPs and tell them how passionately they feel
about maintaining their rights as EU citizens, including the ability to live,
study and work abroad."

In its
original form the amendment suggested the provision of “European associate
citizenship for those who feel and wish to be part of the European project but
are nationals of a former Member State; offers these associate citizens the
rights of freedom of movement and to reside on its territory as well as being
represented in the Parliament through a vote in the European elections on the
European lists”.

Though the
British Government has been coy on what it wants Britain’s post-Brexit future
to look like, it is likely that British citizens will lose the automatic right
to live and work in the EU after Brexit.

This is
because Prime Minister Theresa May has made clear that she would like to
restrict freedom of movement from EU countries to the UK, a policy that would
likely be reciprocated by the EU for British citizens.

Mr Verhofstadt
is one of two chief negotiators representing different pillars of the European
Union. He represents the Parliament, while former commissioner Michel Barnier
represents the Commission. Belgian diplomat Didier Seeuws will coordinate the
European Council’s negotiating position on behalf of the leaders of other EU
states.

The House of
Commons this week approved a motion calling for Ms May to reveal the
Government’s negotiating position on Brexit before triggering Article 50. It
also locked in the timetable of triggering the treaty clause – and starting
negotiations – before the end of March 2017.

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